English book · THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

Contentment

English book, p. 200

By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Contentment does not mean giving up on effort. It is not the opposite of action—it is the opposite of greed. A person should lead a fully active and productive life, but at the same time, they should protect themselves from the endless desire for more. A greedy person can never be truly satisfied in this world. Contentment relates not to the act of working, but to the results of that work. A living person will inevitably act. But outcomes often depend on many external factors beyond one’s control. Therefore, a person should put in their full effort, without falling short, and remain satisfied with whatever result comes. This world is designed in such a way that while effort is in our control, results are not. Thus, the only realistic and sustainable mindset in this world is what we call contentment. However, this means contentment with results, not with effort. Being content with outcomes is wise; being content with low effort is like surrendering to failure. There is a simple rule to balance this: continue working without disturbing your inner peace. Use your skills and opportunities to the fullest. Seek results only to the extent that your peace of mind remains intact. Once desire starts to disturb your calm, it is a sign that you have stepped out of contentment and into greed. And greed, no matter how it is justified, is something to be let go of. For a content person, money is a necessity, not an obsession. Once their basic needs are met, they are satisfied. But a discontent person is never satisfied, because their desire

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